2020-06-15 - OBSERVABLE Meeting

• Remember recording!

Daniel Karlsson

Suzanne Santamaria

Piper Allyn Ranallo

Piper Allyn Ranallo is  doing a mental health clean up based on Mental & Behavioral CRG work - she has submitted some requests for editing and applying the observable entity model to existing content: 285231000 |Mental function (observable entity)|, 8373002 |Nervous system function (observable entity)|, 4065008 |Affect, function (observable entity)|311465003 |Cognitive functions (observable entity)|. Need advice on applying the model to these function observables.

Hello Daniel and Suzanne

I have now received a reply from Piper to Daniel's questions:
https://prod-request.ihtsdotools.org/#/requests/preview/745434?kb
The new comment is:
Hi Nicki, Regarding the relationship between functions --

• both mental and cognitive functions are specific kinds of central nervous system (CNS) functions.
• Motor functions and sensory functions are specific kinds of nervous system functions, with some motor and sensory functions inhering only in the PNS (peripheral nervous system). others inhering in only the CNS, and others inhering in both the PNS and CNS.
• A cognitive function is generally thought to be a more specific kind of mental function, although I don't know whether there's a clear consensus among scientists about how to unambiguously define the line between a mental and a cognitive function. In general, most scientists describe a cognitive functions as higher level, or more complex, mental function -- functions related to things like consciousness.
• 'Executive cognitive functions' are an even more specific (i.e., more complex, higher level) kind of cognitive function that includes reasoning, memory, attention, etc.
• The relationship between cognitive and intellectual function is unclear to me. An intellectual function may be synonymous w executive cognitive functions. I just don't know.
• Regarding the body structure in which the functions inhere - we'll need to look in more detail at the literature and consult with cognitive neuroscience experts.
• Regarding the process that the functions realize, we will need to work on defining that more specifically.
• In terms of modeling these concepts, one thing that is unclear to us is the distinction between processes in the qualifier hierarchy and processes in the observable hierarchy.
• Another question we have relates more generally to different needs for modeling mental and behavioral phenomena (v. biological phenomena). While biological phenomena can be meaningfully defined in terms of body structures and physiologic processes, most mental, behavioral, and social phenomena are more appropriately defined in terms of functional systems that may or may not have clearly defined biological underpinnings. This is a topic that MBH-CRG would like to explore with the folks working on the Observable and Investigation Model Project. Thanks you, Piper

2020-04-20:

Daniel Karlsson participated on MBHCRG call 2020-04-08. A central issue is two aspects of mental function observables, e.g. Folstein MMT asks about the current date, but the function studied is the ability to orient in time. The raw value is a date, but the clinical value is about function. Observables preferably should allow representation of both aspects.

2020-06-15:

Need for clarification of what "function" means in function observables.

Other MBHCRG issues.

Daniel Karlsson

The use of attribute | process output | for intake observables is at least mildly confusing. Is there a need for updated guidance or clarification?

2020-02-24:

Guidance needs clarification. This particular attribute is difficult to explain and often needs re-explaining(!). Alternatives | process target |?

2020-03-16:

Check existing use of the attribute in the SNOMED release as well as in the LOINC linking results.

2020-04-20:

Deadline for MRCM changes has passed, so more time is available for analysis. All LOINC expressions with | process output | are also | characterizes | = | excretory process |. The other | process output | Observables are <<364075005 | Heart rate (observable entity) | and <<86290005 | Respiratory rate (observable entity) |.

2020-05-18:

Use case from histopathology: representation of invasion.

Slides

2020-06-15:

Update of range of | process output | to include Products.

• Daniel Karlsson to update guidance.
• Talk to Jim Case about attribute name changes.
• Daniel Karlsson Check existing uses of the attribute process output

Daniel Karlsson

Daniel Karlsson